Hmm, A new Idol Judge Idea!

"American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi is voting for Harry Connick, Jr., to replace Simon Cowell as her sidekick on the talent show.

The crooner jumped to the top of the favorites list after he mentored the finalists for an episode on the latest season of the show -- and songwriter DioGuardi insists he'd be the perfect for the role.

She says, "The way that he worked with the contestants, he really cared about them. I thought he was really, really great." Cowell quit the show last month and Connick, Jr., Bret Michaels and former "Idol" star Adam Lambert have emerged as frontrunners to take his seat on the judging panel.